'On Golden Pond', 'The Rose' Director Was 97
Deadline • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Mark Rydell, Oscar-nominated director known for films like On Golden Pond, The Rose, and For the Boys, died of natural causes at age 97 in Los Angeles.
- Bette Midler announced his death on Instagram, praising him as an influential director who helped launch her film career with The Rose and For the Boys.
- Rydell began his career as an actor before transitioning to directing, with early work in television and a feature film debut in 1967 with The Fox, notable for its rare depiction of a lesbian relationship at the time.
- His most acclaimed work includes On Golden Pond, which earned multiple Oscars for its cast and crew, and For the Boys, which garnered Midler a Golden Globe despite mixed critical and commercial reception.
- Rydell is survived by three children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, leaving a legacy of directing performances that earned eight actors Oscar nominations.
